Kirigakure

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Kirigakure historically had an unusually high concentration of bloodline and secret-technique clans. The Yuki, Kaguya, and Hozuki clans were once its three strongest shinobi clans 18 99. Its island location made population and access to mainland resources persistent concerns 25 1026.

Under the Third Mizukage, the Blood Mist policy subjected ninja to harsh training. It produced strong lower- and middle-ranking fighters but exacted severe losses; Mist Ninja Academy students had to kill their opponents to graduate 25 713. After Konoha wiped out a force of 2,500 Mist Ninja, the Third Mizukage proposed making the policy harsher. Elder Genji instead began considering a successor who could change the village's course 25.

Karatachi Yagura became Fourth Mizukage after the Third Mizukage's death, backed by Genji and more than ninety percent of Kirigakure's shinobi 217. While under Obito's control, Yagura restored and intensified the Blood Mist. Bloodline users were persecuted, smaller clans were destroyed, and the Yuki and Kaguya clans fled to the Land of Snow 463 697 730. After regaining control of himself, Yagura abolished the policy again and spent two years arresting major offenders before announcing his resignation 727 730 731.

Kirigakure invited the former rogue ninja Mizuki Ember back to become Fifth Mizukage 735 747. He recalled missing-nin, reorganized the Anbu, and introduced policies that strengthened support among civilian ninja 751 761. The returning ninja helped rebuild the village 762. By the later war, Kirigakure ranked second among the great shinobi villages 1528 1578.

Village and Military

• Setting — Kirigakure is shrouded in mist year-round; face coverings are common among its residents 104.
• Assassination tactics — Mist Ninja specialize in assassination and use the Hidden Mist Technique to conceal themselves and obstruct enemy vision 23.
• Water Release — Mist forces employ a range of Water Release techniques; nearly every Kirigakure ninja specializes in the nature 24 1003.
• Seven Ninja Swordsmen — Seven fighters wield specially forged swords. Together, they are considered capable of hunting Kage-level opponents 18.
• Anbu pursuit squads — Kirigakure's Anbu hunt village rogue ninja. Their Water Release—Cutting Rain can weaken an opponent's chakra and ninjutsu, though it also affects allies 1003 1098.

Notable Clans

• Yuki Clan — Ice Release users driven from Kirigakure during the renewed Blood Mist. The clan later reconciles with the village, but no longer belongs to it 99 1630.
• Kaguya Clan — Shikotsumyaku users who leave alongside the Yuki Clan and later reconcile without rejoining Kirigakure 99 497 1630.
• Hozuki Clan — Produced the Second Mizukage and remains the village's largest shinobi clan after the Blood Mist era 99 1630.

Relations with Other Villages

• Konoha — An enemy in successive wars; later a trade partner and participant in joint Chunin Exams and a defensive alliance with Kirigakure and Sunagakure 24 869 878 1026.
• Sunagakure — A trade partner and fellow member of the three-village defensive alliance 850 971.
• Kumogakure — Regarded by Kirigakure as a major potential threat because of its proximity across the sea 257.